The purpose of this Law is to lay down the general principles of the administration of the use of sea areas, to safeguard State ownership of the sea areas and the legitimate rights and interests of the sea area users, and to promote rational development and sustainable utilization of the sea areas.
The sea areas in this Law refer to the sea surface, water volume, seabed and subsoil of the inland waters and territorial seas of the People's Republic of China, and the inland waters in this Law refer to the sea areas extending from the landward side of the territorial seas of the People's Republic of China to the coastline (art.2).
The sea areas shall be owned by the State, and the State Council exercises the right of ownership in the sea areas on behalf of the State. Any entity or individual that intends to use the sea areas is required to obtain the right to their use in accordance with law (art.3). The department of marine administration under the State Council shall be responsible for supervision over the use of the sea areas nationwide (art.7). According to the Law, the state shall establish the system for marine function zoning; an information system for the administration of the use of sea areas; and a registration system for the right to the use of sea areas. Article 11 provides for the principles of marine function zoning planning. The remaining articles of this Law make provision, inter alia, for application for, and examination and approval of, the use of sea areas; fees for the use of sea areas; supervision and inspection; and offences and liabilities.